Eddy returns to area as pro hockey player

JOHNSTOWN — As a former hockey standout at Somerset Area High School, Cullen Eddy has played numerous games at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

But it was a special moment for the Hidden Valley native on Sunday when he took the ice for the first time as a professional at his old home rink.

Eddy singed a pro contract this past week with the Cincinnati Cyclones, a minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

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The Cyclones were in Johnstown to battle the Chiefs in an East Coast Hockey League contest and Eddy was in the lineup as a starting defenseman for Cincinnati.

“Growing up, playing here, it was a lot of fun,” said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Eddy, who saw plenty of ice time and contributed to the Cyclones’ 3-2 victory over the Chiefs.

“To come back and play here as a professional, it’s pretty cool. It’s kind of surreal, growing up and watching the Chiefs and going to some of their games, then to actually play against them, it’s pretty cool.”

Eddy said it was nice to see some familiar faces in the crowd, who were there to cheer him on.

“A couple guys from back home came down, the guys that knew about it,” he said. “A lot of my friends are in college right now and don’t get out for a while. I’ve seen a couple of my friends down here, and, obviously, my family was here.”

Eddy finished his collegiate career at NCAA Division I Mercyhurst College a few weeks ago.

A four-year letterwinner at Mercyhurst, which is located in Erie, he appeared in 144 career games with nine goals and 40 assists for 49 points and 322 penalty minutes.

“He just joined us, and coming from a college setting, he’s done well,” Cincinnati coach Chuck Weber said. “Being a 21-year-old kid, he’s got a lot of potential. He’s got an edge to his game. He’s got some improving to make, just reading plays and his play with the puck. He’s a kid, who we think if we had him since October, we’d be really intrigued with where he’s at right now as a player.

“I talked to (Mercyhurst) coach, Rick Gotkin, and they thought with Cullen’s skating ability and his ability to be physical, he’d be able to step in and help out at this level.”

Weber believes Eddy has the potential for a bright future in professional hockey.

“He’s probably a guy who’s going to have to start out in the (ECHL) next year,” Weber said. “But he’s got some (AHL) upside. Especially with his age, how young he is, and he’s a strong kid. If he’s willing to play with an edge consistently, he’s got a future playing pro hockey.”

The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) are the minor leagues for the NHL.

The Cyclones are currently in second place in the ECHL’s American Conference North Division — two points behind leader Kalamazoo — and have clinched a berth in the upcoming Kelly Cup playoffs.

Eddy was a star player on the Somerset varsity ice hockey team. The Golden Eagles advanced to the PIHL Penguin Cup final at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh during Eddy’s freshman season.

“My ninth grade year, we had a pretty good team,” he said. “I miss those guys a lot. We had a good time. Somerset hockey was always fun.”

Eddy also developed his hockey skills in the prestigious Amateur Penguins organization prior to receiving a scholarship to Mercyhurst. He played on the Quebec Tournament team as a pee-wee major and on the Pens U-16 team that went to nationals.

In addition to being a superb hockey player, Eddy was an outstanding student. He graduated from high school a year early, completing his academic requirements before his senior year was to begin.

Eddy will receive his degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med from Mercyhurst in May.

“If hockey doesn’t work out, I’m hoping to fall back on that,” he said. “It’s always nice to have a backup plan.”